The Tree House Memorial is an amalgamation of two typologies: a tree house and a path. While a tree house is used by children as a refuge that fosters imagination and excitement, a path is utilitarian, a line connecting points through which things move. The combination of these two programs creates a unique journey through space that pairs the function of a path with the excitement and playfulness of a tree house.

The Tree House Memorial aims to strengthen the connection between the Children’s Garden and the rest of the Botanical Gardens in Clemson, South Carolina. The utility of the path, a 1:12 slope, establishes a physical connection for all, while the whimsical form of the treehouse draws the eye, fostering a visual connection. The structure runs through the tree line allowing users to experience the tree canopy while framing a grassy meadow to the North. The path is a function of the site; bending around nine trees and selectively revealing itself to the meadow below.

Aesthetically, the Tree House aims to define space without becoming an imposition to the site. The “veiled rooms” underneath the path are wrapped in thin vertical fins that provide for light, wind, water, sound, and views to pass. The close proximity of the fins creates a Moiré effect as the path turns back on itself, varying the transparency of the structure. These rooms are extensions of the path above, spaces for gathering and playing, turning the underside of the Tree House into a world of excitement and exploration.
A memorial ribbon runs along the length of the Tree House, honoring children who are no longer able to walk the journey of life. The ribbon offers three opportunities to remember loved ones: customized footprint tiles, benches, and information tables. The tiles contain alternating footprints and, when put together, read as one journey. The plaques collectively form a single memorial symbolizing the connections that are made through the sharing of loss.
Rome Office is proud to be a part of this special project and wishes to dedicate this work to Joseph Jackson Turner IV.